Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, has welcomed the launch of Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Pledge to Pick’ initiative ahead of their annual Great British Spring Clean campaign, which asks everyone to chip in and do their bit to help eliminate the scourge of litter that blights our vibrant East Yorkshire countryside.
This year the spring clean runs between 28th May and 13th June, and Beverley & Holderness constituents are able to let the charity know at its website how many hours and minutes they will pledge to litter-picking.
This is allowing Keep Britain Tidy to measure the progress of their ‘million-mile mission’. Over a third of the target has already been met; more than 340,000 miles of litter-picking has already been pledged by people up and down the country.
This year’s campaign comes as the charity has reported a massive increase in the number of people and community groups who have started litter-picking during the various lockdowns. Groups like The Wombles of Beverley (TWOB) have been praised for their extensive co-operation with local businesses and community leaders in tackling the increase in littering. The UK overall has seen the number of individuals actively volunteering to maintain their community grow by as much as a third in less than 12 months.
Paul Coe, TWOB Chairman, supports Keep Britain Tidy, saying “In line with this year’s Great British Spring Clean campaign, The Wombles of Beverley are fully committed to doing our bit in preserving the outstanding beauty of Beverley, the surrounding villages and the green public spaces that have been used extensively during the pandemic.
“Protecting the environment is a key focus of our group and we welcome anyone in the local area to join us to help us in our mission.
“We place a great emphasis on getting children and parents involved in order to inspire the next generation.
“You can become part of our movement by joining our Facebook page ‘The Wombles of Beverley’ or for further information email [email protected]”
Graham commented, “It’s really encouraging to see so many public-spirited individuals, like The Wombles of Beverley, coming out to do their bit for our towns and villages. Not only does it benefit our environment but getting outdoors more regularly is good for our mental and physical health.
“It’s also a great way of showing our appreciation for the countryside on our doorstep, which we may have taken for granted before the pandemic. So, I’d encourage as many people as possible to get involved in the Great British Spring Clean, making sure you’re sticking to the COVID rules and guidance, which is available on Keep Britain Tidy’s website.
“I’m looking forward to getting out on our streets this spring with local councillors to mark this year’s Great British Spring Clean. Armed with my trusty litter-picker, I intend to do my bit for the local community.”
The Great British Spring Clean, now in its sixth year, brings together individuals, community organisations, businesses and councils to make a difference to the environment on our doorstep. In 2019, over half a million litter-pickers collected just under a million bags of rubbish, weighing around 4,300 tonnes.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton added: “We are delighted to have Graham’s support for this year’s Great British Spring Clean.
“We have all spent a lot more time in our local area in the past year and have come to realise just how important our local park or green space is for our mental and physical health.
“Whether you commit to do five minutes or five hours, every single pledge will help us reach our million-mile target and clear tonnes of litter pollution from our environment.”
Back in September 2020, Graham toured the constituency and was joined by local councillors and volunteers for litter picks in Beverley and Holderness.
The local MP joined in with last year’s postponed Spring Clean, when he was accompanied by Conservative ward councillors in South East and South West Holderness, Lyn Healing, Dave Tucker, Paul Whitehead, and Sue Steel to tidy up Withernsea’s beachfront and Hedon’s Market Hill. He also joined Mid-Holderness Councillors Jacob Birch and John Holtby to clear the land around Bilton Village hall, and litter-picked in and around Beverley alongside Cllrs Greenwood, Harold, Nickerson, Elvidge and Gateshill as part of a major sweep of the area.
